Exclusive: Rainbow Lodge sold to Rocklin couple

The iconic Rainbow Lodge at Royal Gorge has been sold to a couple from Rocklin who intend to run it as before, our magazine has learned.

The new owners plan to open the lodge in February and the restaurant and bar in the spring.

The lodge had been closed and up for sale after a proposed 950 home development at the 3,000 acre Royal Gorge property at Donner Summit fell into foreclosure. The land was bought and protected from development under an agreement by The Trust for Public Land, the Truckee Donner Land Trust, and the Northern Sierra Partnership — but the lodge remained up for sale.

The asking price recently had been cut to $1.1 million, “all cash at the close of escrow.” The sale also was subject to court approval.

“They intend to run it as before: lodging, bar and restaurant,” according to an email sent to neighbors, shared with Sierra FoodWineArt magazine. “They are from Rocklin, where he has had a background in finance and she is a teacher.”

The owners also said they look forward to hosting a get-together with the neighbors, a good sign.

The historic 33-room lodge includes a restaurant, fully licensed bar and caretakers quarters. It is sited on 114 acres with a natural spring and one half-mile of river frontage on the South Fork of the Yuba River.

It also boasts a private, natural, fresh spring water source.

“For an old-style Sierra getaway, the Rainbow Lodge near Donner Summit is unsurpassed. Nestled along the Yuba River, the turn-of-the-century lodge is a treasure,” as our magazine has written.

The rustic, alpine lodge right off I-80 is a step back in time—for fine dining or a vacation. The building is made of granite and hand-hewn timber, all of it local.

You’ll find a big stone fireplace, river view rooms, and indoor and outdoor dining. The main dining room is surrounded by its original stone walls. Historic photos are displayed in the cocktail lounge, reflecting a romantic era.

The lodge has hosted some famous guests, including Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser, who entertained guests during a Christmastime snowstorm.

We have been regulars at the lodge for years, so we’re thrilled to see it reopen — in the hands of a regional owner too.

(photos: Rainbow Lodge)

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